Francisco Porrata-Doría | |
---|---|
Born |
Francisco Luis Porrata-Doría Gutierre de Pando 1890 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
Died | 1971 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
Nationality | Puerto Rican |
Alma mater |
Cornell University Columbia University |
Known for | Civil Engineering, Architect |
Notable work |
Ponce Cathedral (1932 fascade), Banco Crédito, Banco de Ponce, Fernando Luis Toro Home, Gomez Residence, Teatro Fox Delicias, Hotel Meliá, El Cometa Building, Hospital San Lucas (1907), Dr. Pila Clinic (1925), Mario Mercado Castle, Forteza Building, Gonzalez Building |
Movement | Neoclassical architecture |
Spouse(s) | Isabel Armstrong Pou (1st) Gloria de la Pila Valdecilla (2nd) |
Francisco Luis Porrata-Doría (1890–1971) was a Puerto Rican architect from Ponce, Puerto Rico. Porrata-Doría was a pioneer in the development of the local modern architecture and one of the architects responsible for what has been called "Ponce Monumental Architecture", of which the Banco Crédito is a good example.
Francisco Luis Porrata-Doría Gutierre de Pando was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on 4 May 1890. His parents were Luis Porrata-Doría, mayor of Ponce in 1898, and Ana Gutierre de Pando. He grew up and was raised in Ponce. In 1909 he graduated from Ponce High School.
In 1909 he enrolled at Cornell University where graduated with a degree in civil engineering and, in the summer of 1912 he took advanced architectural coursework at Columbia University, receiving a certificate in architecture.
Returning to Puerto Rico, Porrata-Doria became director of Public Works for the Municipality of Ponce from 1912 to 1916. His most important public work at the time was Plaza Degetau.
In 1915 he married Isabel Armstrong Pou, daughter of Carlos Armstrong. They had two children, Francisco Carlos Porrata-Doria Armstrong and José Luis Porrata-Doria Armstrong, both of who became physicians.
He remarried in 1939, after the death of his wife the previous year. His second wife was Gloria de la Pila Valdecilla, daughter of Dr. Manuel de la Pila Iglesias. They had two children, Manuel Luis Porrata-Doria de la Pila, an engineer, and Arturo Francisco Porrata-Doria de la Pila, a lawyer.
From 1916 to 1935, Porrata-Doria practiced as an engineer and architect in Ponce. During this time, Porrata Doria designed 12 of his 15 churches as well as numerous prestigious homes. Among these churches where those in the towns of Barranquitas, Jayuya, Maunabo, Patillas, Peñuelas, and Villalba.